4th Republic: What is working, what is not
Political and traditional leaders yesterday in Abuja expressed divergent views on the nation’s Fourth Republic. They spoke at the 23rd Daily Trust Dialogue themed ‘Nigeria’s Fourth Republic: What is Working and What is Not’. Former Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who chaired the event, said though the Fourth Republic has survived, survival is not enough. […]
Political and traditional leaders yesterday in Abuja expressed divergent views on the nation’s Fourth Republic.
They spoke at the 23rd Daily Trust Dialogue themed ‘Nigeria’s Fourth Republic: What is Working and What is Not’.
Former Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who chaired the event, said though the Fourth Republic has survived, survival is not enough.
He said citizens expect democracy to deliver security, governance, economic opportunity and justice.
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Saraki wanted urgent attention to be paid to systemic weaknesses, including judicial independence, enforcement of societal values, effective anti-corruption mechanisms and credible elections.
While acknowledging the achievements of over 26 years of uninterrupted civil rule, including peaceful transfers of power, freedom of expression, media pluralism, civil society engagement, and a judiciary that has at times checked excesses, Saraki warned that longevity alone does not equal success.
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, who was the Special Guest of Honour, spoke on security, corruption and socio-economic challenges.
The traditional ruler said the insecurity in the country was taking too long and slowing down the country’s development.
The Olubadan described systemic and institutional weaknesses as major obstacles to the fight against corruption.
The former governor of Oyo State identified poverty, unemployment and inequality as consequences of governance failure in the country.
For a former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, a selective fight against corruption undermines democracy, weakens accountability and erodes public trust in government.
El-Rufai, who is also a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, said a credible anti-corruption drive must be rooted in transparency, due process and equal application of the law.
A former member of the House of Representatives, Nnenna Elendu Ukeje, said the Nigeria’s Fourth Republic had failed to deliver economic security and empowerment for citizens.
In her view, while elections in Nigeria remain vibrant, governance has steadily collapsed, deepening poverty, institutional decay and political disillusionment.
Her verdict on the country’s democracy is that it has not translated into economic security for citizens.
The Senior Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Public Communications and Orientation, Mr Sunday Dare, noted that Nigeria’s Fourth Republic has endured because it has continued to learn from the failures of previous republics.
He said the nation’s future depends on leadership willing to reform systems, confront historical grievances with honesty and build a democracy that works not for some, but for all Nigerians.
For the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Comrade Ini Ememobong, public trust in Nigeria’s judiciary is eroding, driven by politicisation and the absence of consequences for public officials.